Clare Fitzgerald

BNU-HKBU United International College

Situated in Zhuhai, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC) was jointly founded by Beijing Normal University and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). It is the first full-scale cooperation in higher education between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Its charter has been approved by the Ministry of Education with full support from local authorities. UIC shoulders the historical mission of advancing the internationalization of Chinese higher education and taking the lead in implementing liberal arts education in China. Since its first enrollment in 2005, UIC has grown into an international institution with innovative educational approaches. Twenty-three undergraduate programmes are currently being offered by four divisions: namely, the Division of Business and Management, the Division of Culture and Creativity, the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Division of Science and Technology. UIC has extended its enrollment of Category 1 candidates from 30 provinces and municipalities in mainland China. There are more than 5000 undergraduate students now, including those from Hong Kong and overseas. Teaching staff from more than 30 countries and regions make it possible for UIC to use English as the medium of instruction. Graduates will be awarded Bachelor's Degrees by HKBU and Graduation Certificates by UIC. Approved by the Ministry of Education, UIC will start to offer Postgraduate Programmes, including Taught Master Programmes in addition to Research Postgraduate Programmes that lead to MPhil or PhD degrees. Degree certificates from HKBU will be awarded upon completion. The vision is to create an innovative international education model for China that can contribute to the welfare of the nation and the world. The mission is to build a new model for liberal education in Mainland China and to nurture talented future graduates with international perspectives.